US Coast Guard trains PHL Coast Guard

The United States government will be funding several Philippine Coast Guard officers and staff to participate in training courses this year at the United States Coast Guard Academy through U.S. Department of State’s Export Control and Related Border Security.

“The EXBS Program is designed to help countries develop and improve their strategic trade and related border control systems. EXBS provides a wide range of technical assistance, from executive exchanges to training workshops to the provision of detection equipment and specialized training for border control and enforcement agencies,” United States Embassy in Manila said.

The said program has been investing $600,000 annually to support a wide range of activities with Philippine partners. Just recently, representatives from USCG conducted training with their PCG counterparts in Cebu and Iloilo from January 12 to February 6. Twenty-seven PCG officers and staff participated in an outboard motor maintenance course designed to keep PCG vessels operating at peak performance, US Embassy reports.

PCG is set to receive ten 40-meter Multi-Role Response Vessels from Japan starting October this year. One unit will arrive this year, two more on March 2016, other two on September 2016, three more on April 2017 and the final two on September 2017.